Fence protector



May 3, 1932. E E, MCD NALD 1,856,841

. PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 13, 1930 Inventor By @mm A Ilomey Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES EAR-L E. MCDONALD, OF KIRKLIN, INDIANA FENCE raorncroa Application filed. October 13, 1930. Serial No. 488,523.

This invention relates to an improved fence protector in the form of a supplemental barbed wire, and brackets for attaching said barbed wirein spaced horizontal paralleli ism to the line wires of a conventional wire fence.

Protecting a wire fence is a worthwhile project and unless protected in some way, the stock will ride it down by reaching through 19 to the other side, or by rubbing, stamping, or climbing on it, and in a few years it is necessary to replace the wires, if not the entire fence.

WVith the foregoing defects and objections in mind, I have evolved and produced a simple and economical protector structure whichis primarily characterizedby an improved attaching bracket which is susceptible of easy application and removal on a conventional open-work wire fence.

In developing the structure for accomplishing the desired result, I have provided a bracket which can be easily and quickly placed in position and removed, which stays put, holds the barbed wire properly and securely, and does not require short pieces of wire, bolts, nails, screws or other fastenings to hold it to the post or fence, or to hold the barb-ed wire from falling down.

3 A further object is to provide a bracket which can be installed on any wire fence that has line wires and stay wires, regardless of the character of post used. One that can be installed anywhere desired on the fence, either high or low, at the post or between the post,

and a structure which is neither a puzzle or a problem to apply and remove.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the bracket and barbed wire attached to the fence.

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the anchoring end of the brace.

In the drawings, the horizontal line wires are indicated by the numerals 4 and the vertical stay wires by the numerals 5. This is an ordinary wire fence construction. The

barbed wire which serves as a guard, is inclicated by the numeral 6. This is also conventional.

The primary part of the bracket is designated by the numeral 7. It is formed from a single length of wire bent upon itself into substantial V-shaped formation. The diverging arm portions are distinguished by the numerals 8 and 9. The intermediate or apex portion is bent into a double ply retain ing hook 10 in which the barbed wire 6 seats.

The inner ends of the arms 8 and 9am bent to permit attachment to the fence wires 4 and 5. This is accomplished by forming a return bend from the wire-ends as at 11, then forming a U-shaped portion 12 to straddle the vertical wires 5 and providing a hook terminal 13 of appropriate angularity to engage over the wire 4. Thus the U-shaped part 12 embraces the wire 5 and the U-shaped portions 11 and 13 engage the wire 4 on opposite sides of the wire 5 making a convenient and dependable connection.

The numeral 14 designates a substantially diagonal brace which has an eye 15 at the upper end surrounding the hooked end portion of the bracket 7. In fact, this eye 15 slides beneath the bill of the hook 10 and constitutes a keeper for holding the barbed wire therein as shown, inFigure 2.

The anchoring end of the brace is formed with a return bend l6 and a peculiarly shaped portion 17 having a hook terminal 18 forming an appropriate fastener or anchor for attaching the brace to the line wire as shown in Figure 2. The angularity of the hook 18 is such 'as to provide a guard to prevent accidental displacement of the brace and to make it necessary to remove the brace manually by getting it into proper angular relation- 99 ship with respect to the line wire on which it is anchored.

This prevents the animals from disengaging thebrace accidentally and allowing the bracket to fall.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore,a 10c more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, in combination, a. wire fence embodying horizontal line wires and vertical stay wires disposed in right angular intersecting relationship, a barbed wire, and means for attaching the barbed wire to the line wires of the fence comprising a bracket having a hook in which the barbed wire is engaged, andhav'ing means for detachableconnection withthe line wires of said fence.

2. In a structure of the class described, in combination, .a 'wire fence embodying horizontal line wiresand vertical stay wires disposed .in right angular intersecting relationship, a barbed wire,and means for attaching the barbed wire to the line wires .of the fence comprisingabracket having a hook in which the barbed wire is engagedand havingmeans for detachableconnectionwith the line wires of said fence,.and further including a brace for.maintainingthelbracket ina substantially horizontal barbed wire supporting position.

3. As a new product of manufacture, a barbed wire bracket for fences comprising a single length of wire bent into substantially V-shaped formation, .the apex portion thereof being provided with alhook for reception of a barbed-wire, the free. ends oft-he armportions beingprovided with LU-shaped portions hming terminal hooks for detachable con.- ncction with the line wire ofthefence,-and,a .brace having an eye co-operable with the hooked end .of the bracket and provided at its opposite ends with asecuring anchor for .de- -ta chableconnectiou with a line wire ofithe {fence structure.

:4. .As .a new product of manufacture, a barbed wire bracket comprising .asingle length of wire bent between its endsinto a V- shaped formation, :the intermediate portion thereof'beingformed with ,adouble-plyhook providing alhorizontally dir'ectedmouth and .a horizontal seat for-retention of the'barbed wire,.the:free ends of thearmsof said wire being formed with areturn bend, LU-shape'd portions, and integralterminal hooks provid- Zing fasteners for embracing intersecting horizontal.andve-rtical wires ofa fence structure, and constitutingthe soleline wirerianchorage.

.As .a new ,product of .manufacture, a barbed wire bracket comprising :a single length of wire bent between its ends into, a .V- shaped formation, the intermediate portion .thereof being formed witha double-ply hook providing a seatfor retention .of thebarbed wire, the .free ends. ofthearmsof said wire .being formed withcareturn, bend, .U-shaped portions, and terminal hooks providing fasteners for embracing intersecting horizontal and vertical wires of a fence structure, and a brace comprising a length of wire having an eye at one end embracing the hooked intermediate portion of said bracket, and provided at its opposite ends with anchoring hooks for engagement with a line .wire.

6. The combination with a guard wire and a wire fence having a pair of spaced superposed :lin'e wires and a pair of spaced line wires connecting stay wires, of a guard wire support-comprising a single length of wire bent into substantially V-formation, the apex portionincluding an integral guard wire receiving seat and the free .ends having .2 tachable connection with .the line wire at the line wireand stay wire connection .and .partially embracing the stay ,w'ire ajtthe connection, and abrace .wire having one end detachably mounted on the othenline wire and ,associated with the apex ,portion for ,lQcliin'g the guard wire in .the seat.

.7. T he combination with a guard ,wjireand a wire fence having-a pair of spacedsjuperposed line wires and a pairof spaced fline wires connecting stay \wires,.of a guard ,wire support comprising a single'leng'th of wire, bentintosubstantially V-formation, theapex portion including'an integral guard Wirereceiving seat and -the free ends having a [detachable connection with thefline wireatthe line wire and stay Wirerormectiomnnd ,Rartially embracing the line wireatboth sides of the stay wire and partiallyenibraCing it-he I stay wireat the connection, a brace Wirelhav- .ing one end detachably mounted onjthe-Qther line wire and associated withthe-itPQXportion for lockingthe guard wire in ithe seat, and brace means operatively-associate-d with the apex portion for securing the-guard wire in the seat and operatively associated withjjthe other wire for'bracingpurposes.

In testimony whereof I atlix-my-signature.

EARL "E. TMCD QNAQLD. 

